Everyday Beans Podcast - Mostly About Coffee and Other Stuff

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In this episode, I open up about one of the most humbling realizations in my coffee journey: the coffees I've lost along the way. I'm talking about those bags where I knew something special was hiding, but I just couldn't crack the code to unlock it. The culprit? Water chemistry—and more broadly, ignorance about the variables that truly matter in brewing. I've been experimenting intensively with water over the past week, using a TDS meter and testing different mineral profiles, and I'm blown away by how simple tweaks can completely transform what you taste in your cup. It's made me rethink every coffee I dismissed as "not working" when the truth was that I simply didn't have the right knowledge to bring out its potential.
What you'll learn by listening to this episode: I share why understanding water chemistry might be the single most impactful variable you can control in coffee brewing—potentially more important than your grinder or brewer. You'll hear about my journey from relying on bottled water solutions to taking control of my brewing water, and how this knowledge gap affected my relationship with light roast coffees. I'll encourage you to push past the things that seem hard or mysterious, to question recipes and advice (even mine), and to understand the context behind what you're doing. Most importantly, you'll walk away understanding that we don't need to know everything about coffee—we just need to know the right things.
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For good tasty coffee, check us out at: everydaybeans.com

For tips, tricks and still trying to figure it out: https://www.youtube.com/@everyday-beans

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In this episode, I share my honest recommendation for anyone just starting their specialty coffee journey: the K2 Kin Grinder. I reflect on my own coffee beginnings with ground coffee and a French press, and explain why if I were starting fresh today, this $70-80 hand grinder would be my first investment. I walk through the grinder's capabilities—from pour over to French press to even espresso if you're adventurous—and discuss why its imperfections actually make it perfect for beginners.
I dive into the reality that grinders tell the story of coffee and create the ultimate feedback loop in your brewing experience. While I own seven grinders now, I explain why this particular one remains valuable and produces genuinely tasty coffee, even if the cups are slightly muddier than what more expensive grinders produce. I discuss the grinder's quirks—the difficult-to-read dial system, the limited catch capacity, the physical effort required—and why understanding these limitations actually prepares you to know exactly what you're looking for when you eventually upgrade. By listening to this episode, you'll learn why investing in quality grinding upfront saves money and frustration in the long run, and how this specific grinder removes variables that confuse beginners while teaching you the fundamentals of dialing in coffee and developing your palate.
Support the show
For good tasty coffee, check us out at: everydaybeans.com

For tips, tricks and still trying to figure it out: https://www.youtube.com/@everyday-beans

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In this deeply personal episode, I share the story of a Sulawesi coffee that completely transformed my understanding of what exceptional coffee could be. I discovered this remarkable bean over 10 years ago during my early roasting journey when I was still a novice, experimenting with a Fresh Roast and barely knowing what I was doing. I describe how this particular coffee had an almost purple flavor profile - juicy, acidic but not offensive, with an incredible fruitiness that persisted no matter how I roasted it. What shocked me most was that I could take this coffee across the entire roasting spectrum, from light to dark, and it remained consistently excellent every single time.
I reflect on how this coffee became like a dear friend that eventually disappeared from my life, much like relationships that naturally end after a season. I share the frustration of trying to find similar Sulawesi coffees from other sources that never quite matched that original magic. Through this story, I explore the deeper lessons this coffee taught me about cherishing exceptional moments, preserving memories, and understanding that some experiences are meant to be temporary but transformative. By listening to this episode, you'll gain insight into how a single extraordinary coffee can shape a roaster's entire philosophy and learn why sometimes the ones that got away teach us the most valuable lessons about appreciation and presence.
Support the show
For good tasty coffee, check us out at: everydaybeans.com

For tips, tricks and still trying to figure it out: https://www.youtube.com/@everyday-beans

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I recently bought some new camera gear, and as I was playing around with it, figuring out how it works and what it can do, it got me thinking about coffee equipment. I talk about how we often buy coffee gear—whether it's a Hario V60, an Origami Dripper, or whatever catches our eye—but we don't really take the time to understand it. We watch videos, read reviews, follow recipes, but we're depending on other people's experiences instead of developing our own. I share my thoughts on the Origami Dripper specifically, breaking down why it's shaped the way it is, how the concaves create maximum airflow, and how you can use different filters to completely change your brewing experience.
In this episode, you'll learn why mastering one brewer is more valuable than collecting a dozen different devices. I encourage you to stay with one piece of equipment long enough to truly understand what it can do for you—experimenting with different filters, water temperatures, grind sizes, and brew methods until you discover what YOU actually like, not what someone else tells you should taste good. At the end of the day, it's about your palate, your preferences, and your coffee journey. Master your gear, master your craft, and you'll make consistently great coffee that's perfect for you.
Support the show
For good tasty coffee, check us out at: everydaybeans.com

For tips, tricks and still trying to figure it out: https://www.youtube.com/@everyday-beans

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I dive deep into why context matters more than anything when it comes to coffee equipment recommendations and brewing methods. Throughout this episode, I share my personal coffee journey as a pour-over enthusiast, occasional espresso puller, and coffee roaster who's tried just about every brewing method out there. I break down my honest opinions on the Kase Six grinder, discuss why I'm not sold on light roasts, and explain why medium roasts hit that perfect sweet spot for me. I also reveal my surprising take on dark roasted African coffees that might change how you think about darker roasts entirely.
By listening to this episode, you'll learn how to make better-informed decisions about coffee gear purchases by understanding the reviewer's context and brewing preferences. You'll also discover why your grinder matters more than your brewing equipment, gain insight into how different roast levels affect flavor profiles, and learn to trust your own coffee preferences instead of chasing trends. Whether you're a French press loyalist or a pour-over perfectionist, this episode will help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters for your coffee journey.
Support the show
For good tasty coffee, check us out at: everydaybeans.com

For tips, tricks and still trying to figure it out: https://www.youtube.com/@everyday-beans